Foreign minister Hoxha: Public administration undergoing deep transformation toward European Union standards
TIRANA, July 3 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania’s public administration is undergoing a deep transformation. He linked the process to preparations for European Union membership. He spoke at the third edition of Public Administration Week. The event carried the theme “Public Service for a European Albania.” He said …
PM Rama: National Flight School opens, training and certification also for NATO and Kosova pilots
TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the opening of the National Flight School. He described it as an ambitious project for the modernization of the Armed Forces. He said the initiative was initially met with humour and scepticism. However, Rama added that the project has now become …
From the Nile to the Balkans
By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its serene flow to guide your thoughts, you realize that the water remembers not only the lands it traverses, but also the people who shaped …
Week in Review: Hopes, Schemes and Stand-Offs
While some countries in the region dare to hope that they might join the EU in the near future, BIRN’s selection of Premium stories this week suggests others remain stuck in their usual deadlock. Original post Here
ALL 8.9 billion added to health and social welfare budget, focus on salary increases
TIRANA, July 3 – The health and social welfare budget for 2026 increases by 8.9 billion lek compared with the initial projection for the same year. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection records this as the largest increase for the sector. The ministry says the additional funding aims to …
Albania completes EU energy legal obligations under EU negotiation Chapter 15
TIRANA, July 3 – Albania has fulfilled all legal obligations under the European Union’s Chapter 15 on energy after Parliament approved the new electricity sector law, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said at the Energy Community Ministerial in Prishtina. Karakaçi said the legislation completes the country’s legal package and …
Durrës Port Authority assists disabled Maltese yacht
TIRANA, July 3 – The Durrës Port Authority successfully coordinated a towing operation for the Maltese-flagged yacht Infinity Nine after it reported engine failure at sea. The authority said the yacht requested assistance about 20 nautical miles west of Bisht Palla. Meanwhile, the operation became possible through cooperation with the …
Summer Afternoon Draws Crowds of Tourists to Durrës
Durrës continues to attract local and foreign tourists, who enjoy the city’s beaches, seaside atmosphere, and cultural attractions. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of residents and visitors spending a summer afternoon in the city center and along the Taulantia Promenade, known as the Vollga area. The city recently transformed …
Special anti-corruption prosecution chief: Strategy targets 70% cut in case backlog
TIRANA, July 3 – Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) chief Klodian Braho said the institution has finalized its strategy against organized crime and aims to reduce its case backlog by more than 70%. Reporting to Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration on SPAK’s 2025 activity, Braho …
PM Rama: Albania develops first artificial intelligence model for public procurement
TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania is developing the world’s first artificial intelligence model for public procurement, describing the project as a major step toward improving the management of public funds and eliminating problems linked to tenders and contracts. Speaking during Public Administration Week, Rama said …
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania will host the 37th NATO Summit after the alliance concluded its 36th summit in Ankara. Analysts say the decision highlights the strategic importance of Albania and the Western Balkans for NATO. Experts say the alliance has renewed its focus on the region as Europe reshapes …
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania marks 31 years of membership in the Council of Europe on July 13, a milestone that reflects the country’s democratic transition and its commitment to European standards, according to the Agency for Media and Information (MIA). MIA said membership has supported reforms, strengthened institutions and …
TIRANA, July 13 – Murat Toptani, a sculptor, painter, poet, publicist and prominent figure of the Albanian National Renaissance, was born on July 13, 1868, in Aka, present-day Türkiye. His father, Said Toptani, lived in exile in Türkiye at the time, which led to Murat’s birth there. In 1884, Toptani …
TIRANA, July 13 – The United Kingdom has announced measures to ban support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designating the group as a threat to national security, according to the BBC. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the new powers will make support for the IRGC a criminal …
On Monday, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, held an official meeting with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Hannes Takacs, the EBRD’s newly appointed Resident Representative in Albania. The delegation also included Ekaterina Solovova, along with other representatives from …
Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived in Paris on Monday to attend the Coalition of the Willing Summit in support of Ukraine. Rama said he had been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron and shared footage of his arrival, where he was welcomed by the French leader. Rama and other European …
The Bank of Albania revoked the licenses of 83 currency exchange offices during 2025 following inspections that uncovered regulatory violations and financial irregularities related to cash circulation. According to the central bank, the inspections revealed shortcomings in customer identification procedures, transaction monitoring, screening against sanctions lists, and the reporting of …
Around 200 high-income individuals in Albania are being audited as part of an intensified effort by the tax authorities to verify their wealth and income. The General Directorate of Taxes says it has identified €770,000 in suspicious findingsso far. The Tax Administration has stepped up inspections targeting individuals with significant …
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Open Balkan initiative was labeled “a terrible idea” for one reason only: because it was backed by him and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. “It was considered a terrible idea for only one reason – because Vučić and I were behind it. If you removed our …